By Alex Davidson
A 32-year-old Long Island man was arrested last Thursday and charged with attempted murder in connection with the May shooting of a Howard Beach bagel shop owner, police said.
Keith Dodson, of 220 Cambridge St. in Malverne, was taken into police custody following a nearly four-month investigation into the May 4 shooting of Howard Beach resident Angelo Mugnolo, 42, outside his home, police said. Dodson is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the pending case, cops said.
Mugnolo, 42, of 157-36 83rd St. had just started his car May 4 when shots were fired at him from a green Ford Explorer through his driver's side window, police said. The car then fled and Mugnolo, shot twice in the chest, was able to survive and call 911, police said.
He was immediately taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was first listed in stable condition, police said. Mugnolo has since recovered from the mob-style shooting, police said.
A spokeswoman for the Police Department would not discuss Dodson or Mugnolo's background and whether either men had ties to organized crime. She said she could not release the details because the police investigation was ongoing.
The shooting took place within the confines of the 106th Precinct that includes Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood and Howard Beach.
Mugnolo is the co-owner of two bagel stores, both called Sapienza Bagels, one on Cross Bay Boulevard at Liberty Avenue and the other at 83-19 101st Ave., in Ozone Park.
A worker at the Cross Bay Boulevard store would not comment on the circumstances of Mugnolo's shooting immediately following the incident. She did say, however, that Mugnolo had many friends in the community and was liked by the people with whom he worked.
Other neighbors and businesses around the area also had nothing to say in the wake of the shooting. Police said Mugnolo was initially unable to describe any details to detectives about his attacker.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
